DAY 6

I’ve been very privileged in my working life to have had my ideas and world view broadened by some great theologians and thinkers from around the world. When I worked with the Micah Challenge campaign, which was a Christian campaign to advocate for the Millennium Development goals, I began to hear about theologians like Melba Maggay from the Philippines, Ruth Padilla Deborst from Argentina, Fidelis Wainaina from Kenya, CB Samuel from India, Lawrence Temfwe from Zambia. A very happy and exciting memory I have was being in a room with some of these people and watching how animated we all were about how we could engage churches in different countries to raise their voices for these goals.

When I think of all the wonderful Christians I’ve met, all inspired by the work and love of Jesus Christ, I get inspired again.

Ruth Padilla DeBorst says this about theology:
“In an attempt to build systems of thought, theology has largely abstracted ideas from the biblical story—cutting and pasting ....[them into], categories, ideas, and doctrines......’

My approach is to look at scripture and life as narrative—as this story that we’re all “emplotted” in, that we’re all characters in. Who do we recognize as the central protagonist? Is it me, God, others?  

To me, theology loses its vocation if it’s not coming from and returning to life.
One way or another, we’re all doing theology!  

Even a person without any formal education is working to build bridges between life and God’s revelation and seeing how she or he fits into it—and that’s “doing theology.”   

I can’t think of a theologian who fits this description better than Mary, Jesus' mother.

Here is Mary 'doing theology', seeing her life ‘emplotted’ in God’s revelation.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.


May we all be doing theology with our lives as we seek to inspire each other with the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.